October 2023 Minutes

MINUTES OF ANCASTER PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 16 OCTOBER 2023 AT 7.30PM IN THE PARISH HALL ANNEXE.


Present:            Cllr Sayer (Chair) Cllr Leighton (Vice-Chair)
Cllrs Hollick, Rock, Dr Entwistle, Ferguson, Clarke, Pearsey, and Fleming.                

In attendance:        District Cllrs Stokes and Stephens, Andrew Newton
                and Denise Gascoyne Parish Clerk.

Public Forum:
An email had been received from a parishioner saying the grass had not been cut outside the parish hall. The Parish Council were in consultation with SKDC Environmental re fulfilling the contract for this cutting season.

The meeting began at 7.35pm

1.Chair’s Welcome:
a. The Chair David Sayer welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Andrew Newton attended the meeting and wished to talk about Item 12(a) and Item 13(a). It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: that Item 12(a) and 13(a) be bought forward and discussed.

Item 12(a) Andrew Newton asked for clarification on The Ragwort Pull. The Clerk apologised saying the description on the Agenda was not clear. The Ragwort Pull had been done this year, and an order would be placed for next year at the same price.

Item 13(a) Andrew Newton on behalf of the Parish Council was putting a tender together for grass cutting for next season. He asked if the tender should be for 3 years, it was agreed this could be a rolling contract, depending on the quality of work. The Chair said the orchard should be cut more regularly than this year and paths cut through. Andrew Newton also asked if the former Sudbrook village hall site could be included in the tender. The Chair said he could obtain a price and we would discuss it when we looked at the tenders.

2. Apologies for Absence:
a. The Clerk confirmed that apologies for absence with valid reasons had been received from Cllr Barker. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: that apologies for absence with valid reasons be accepted from Cllr Barker.

3. Declarations of Interest:
a. Cllr Pearsey – 12(a).

4. To approve and accept as a true record the notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 18 September 2023. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: that the notes of the meeting held on 18 September 2023 be accepted as a true record and the Chair to sign.

5. Vacancy for a Parish Councillor:
a. Robert (Bob) Lovett attended the Parish Council Meeting and was co-opted on to the parish council. He told a little about himself and took his place at the table.

6. Report from District Councillors:
a. There was no report.

7. Chair Update:
a. The Chair had received complaints about odour and litter at the Mid UK Site. Also, hours of working at Copper Hill Quarry. The Enforcement Officer had been informed.

b. The 30mph roundel had now been sited.

c. The 40mph extension of the speed limit from Woody’s to this side of West Willoughby was now in place. However, the speed limit is still 50mph through West Willoughby. Cllr Stokes said he would investigate.

8. Planning:
a. S23/0056 Approval of details reserved by condition in relation to condition 3 (play equipment) of planning permission S21/2500 land north of Wilsford Lane. FOR INFORMATION ONLY.

b. S23/0439 Approval of non-material amendment condition 2 land north of Wilsford Lane. FOR INFORMATION ONLY.

c. S22/2187 Approval of details reserved by condition 12 (boundary treatments) linked to outline planning permission S20/169 land north of Wilsford Lane. FOR INFORMATION ONLY.

9. Speed Watch:
a. Nothing to report – still waiting for quotation for maintenance/new signs. The Clerk to chase.

10. Parish Clerk Update:
a. The Clerk confirmed that the by-election for a County Councillor will take place on 09 November 2023.
b. The Clerk confirmed that the wrong battery/sticker for the defibrillator  would be collected by DPD. The right battery/sticker has now been ordered. The correct ones had now been received.
c. A parishioner had requested an additional streetlight at West Willoughby. As this was a request from one parishioner, parish councillors felt the other residents should be asked first. The Clerk to contact the resident, who had requested it

11. Correspondence:
a. Message to Parish Councils September 2023 Richard Cleaver SKDC – circulated to all Cllrs.
b. Local Councils Update October 2023
c. Thank you from Sudbrook Village Hall Committee.
d. Railwatch – forwarded to Cllr Pearsey
e. LALC e-news – circulated to all Cllrs.
f. Town & Parish Council update – circulated to all Cllrs.
g. Temporary Traffic Restriction Wilsford Heath/Ancaster B6403 7.00pm-6.00am 24.10.23
h. SKDC Council Housing Strategy Consultation Survey – circulated to all Cllrs.
i. ICCM Updates – circulated to Cllrs Hollick, Dr Entwistle, Barker
j. Parish Council Engagement Sessions
k. Consultation review of polling districts and polling places – no proposed changes for Ancaster.
l. Household Support Fund launched in South Kesteven – on notice board.

12. Cemetery and Newton Meadow:
a. See Public Forum.

13. Grass Cutting/Grounds Maintenance:
a. See Public Forum

14. Parish Hall:
a. Hirers very rarely use the bar to bring in barrels etc and the cooler had broken down. The Clerk had contacted the Social Club as the lines and cooler belonged to them. They gave permission to remove them, and the glasses stored there would be collected.

15. Report from Councillors:
a. Cllr Hollick was thanked for all her hard work obtaining grants for the Community Orchard, for the bench and information board. The Clerk confirmed that £1332.72 from SKDC Community Fund had been paid into the bank. Mid UK had agreed to a donation of £450.00 and we were waiting for a response to a request for a hardstanding to be installed for the bench.

16. Playing Field:
a. The Clerk confirmed she was still waiting for a price for the removal of branches that were urgent on the recent report.

17. Finance:
a. The  Bank Reconciliation, Bank Transfers and Cashbook to 30 September 2023 had been circulated to all Cllrs. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: to accept  the Bank Reconciliations, Bank Transfers and Cashbook to 30 September 2023.

b. The Approval List for a DD Retrospective payment had been circulated to all Cllrs. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: to accept the following DD Retrospective payment.

SKDC    Trade Waste Bins    £23.84
 
c. The Approval List for Staff BACS Payments had been circulated to all Cllrs. It was proposed, seconded and 
Resolved: to accept the Approval List for Staff BACS Payments amounting to £1887.65 and authorise the Clerk to make the payments.

d. The Approval List for BACS/DD Payments had been circulated to all Cllrs. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: to accept the Approval List for BACS/DD Payments listed below  and authorise the Clerk to make the payments.

Clerks & Councils Direct    Annual Subscription    £120.00
D Sayer    Chair Allowance    £75.00
James Bell    Maintaining Website    £35.00
Prowebs    Remote Support     £55.00
British Gas    Electricity Annexe    £49.17
British Gas    Electricity Hall    £52.11
PWLB    Loan due 6.11.23    £853.37
S.K.D.C    Trade Waste Bins Oct/Nov    £47.66
We do doggy doo doo    Dog Bins    £225.00
Safelincs    Defib parts    £154.99

e. The Clerk confirmed the second half of the Precept amounting to £14250.00 had been received.
f. The Clerk confirmed that LCC had paid £637.47 their share of the grass cutting into the bank.

18. Training:
a. The Clerk had attended the Precept Webinar with EdgeIT Finance. 

b. ICCM are running a management of memorial inspection workshop on 25 April 2024 at Ruskington Parish Council. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: that Andrew Newton attend the course. 


19. Date of Next Meeting:
a. The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 20 November 2023 at 7.30pm in the parish hall annexe.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.10pm

                            Chair ……………………………
                            Ancaster Parish Council


                            20 November 2023


It is important to understand that the information given above represents notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 16 October 2023  and do not become Minutes of ANCASTER PARISH COUNCIL until accepted or otherwise at the next Parish Council Meeting.